Wellington Boot History

Wellies through the ages

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington made the Wellington
Boots popular and fashionable among the British aristocracy in the
early 19th century.

He asked his shoemaker to change the 18th century Hessian boot in
order to fit more closely around the leg and stop mid-calf. -The
result was tough and resilient enough to wear in battle but nice and
comfy for the evening. In his honour the boots were named
Wellingtons and the name remained the same until today.

At first these boots were made of leather but in 1852 Hiram
Hutchinson bought the patent to manufacture footwear from the
vulcanization process of natural rubber. Especially amongst farmers,
who wore wooden clogs in the fields, the Wellington rubber boots
were a great success.

In WW1 and 2 Wellington Boots were used by soldiers in flooded
trenches and by the end of the war, everybody was wearing them.

In the last 10 years Wellington Boots have become increasingly
fashionable and are now not only worn for work and walks in muddy
fields but have become a staple for festivals and other events for
people who want to stay dry and warm, yet still be fashionable.